Compare towns
Sandgate vs Halifax vs Jay vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Jay has the highest household income ($75k).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sandgate | Halifax | Jay | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
847Highest |
471 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
| Sandgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
| Jay and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Ira and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
| Ira and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 16% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Halifax School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.